Infant shoes

ABSTRACT

A rigid member is placed above the sole of an infant&#39;&#39;s shoe, and extends across the heel and to the base of the fifth toe to provide support over the full heel width and forward along the outer edge of the foot outline. The effective width of the infant&#39;&#39;s foot is thus increased to permit more stable standing and walking by the infant.

14 1 Apr, 24, 1973 United States Patent 11 1 Hirasawa et al.

[56] References Cited INFANT SHOES UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventors: Yaichiro Hirasawa, Yokohama; Masakatu Ousuga, Shizuoka, both ofJapan Morris et al.

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Fujidai Rubber Industry C(L, Ltd, Shin-dori, Shizuoka-shi, Japan Assignee:

[22] Filed: Sept. 2, 1971 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Atl0rneyBeveridge & De Grandi 121 177,226

Appl. No.:

. D t {30] 1 Foreign Apphcaflon Pmmty a a A rigid member is placed above the sole of an infants Mar. 5, 1971 I257 hoe and extends aerosg the heel and to the base of the fifth toe to provide support over the full heel width and forward along the outer edge of the foot outline.

The effective width of the infants foot is thus increased to permit more stable standing and walking by t n m .m e h t a 6 57 m 4 m mF mm3 .2 "nu O m" I .c n r Ha Us Qu d td UMF 1 2 8 555 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 FIG F-EG

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I -..-..'-u""'/ INVENTORS YAICH I RO HIRASAWA' MASAKATM OLSUG A ATTORNEYS INFANT SHOES The present invention relates to infant shoes.

Force exerted by walking moves gradually from the sole to the base of the fifth toe, then to the base of the first toe, and finally to the first toe. The sole is flapped, so to speak, from outside to inside. The bones and muscles of infants feet are not sufficiently developed. Their sole is shaped like a ball because it has a large amount of fat, and this makes it hard for them to stand with balance. That is why they walk unsteadily and fall frequently. This sometimes gives them fear about walking and delays their feet could be hindered if they are forced to walk. The present invention provides a device which enables infants to stand naturally and steadily and hence assists their walking a promotes the natural developments of the functions of their feet.

For the purposes of illustration atypical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a plane view partially cut and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section view along the 1 1 line.

A board 2 of 0.5 mm 1.0 mm thickness is placed on the flat sole 1 of the main body A of the shoes. The front edge of the board is shaped like a circular are running from the interior edge of the heel section In to the base of the fifth toe of the toe section 1b. The back and the side edges are shaped b identically as the sole 1. The device according to the present invention being constituted as mentioned above, when infants wear shoes according to the present device, the ball-like section from the heel to the base of the fifth toe is placed on the board 2, that is, 0.5 mm 1.0 mm above the sole 1. This prevents the feet from tottering toward outside, and enables infants to balance themselves and stand naturally. This also can promote the natural development of the functions of their feet as well as better and safer walking.

Furthermore, the structure of the present device is simple. These advantages make the present invention very useful.

What is claimed is:

l. A child's shoe comprising soft sole and upper elements conformably securable to the desired foot, weight distributing stiffening member means for broadening the lateral support to after portion of the foot comprising a rigid sheet member secured to the heel portion of said sole and upper elements having a portion extending forward toward the ball of the foot while not underlying the ball of the foot, said extending portion reaching substantially to the base of the small toe at the outer lateral margin and extending forward of the heel portion of the shoe at the inner margin.

2. A shoe according to claim 1, said portion of the rigid sheet being arcuately concave shaped at the forward edge and conforming to the shape of said sole portion at the rear and lateral sides of the shoe.

3. A shoe according to claim 2, said forward edge extending substantially to the ball of the wearers foot except at said outer margin.

4. A shoe according to claim 1, said rigid sheet being secured to said sole member exteriorly thereof.

5. A shoe according to claim 1, said rigid sheet being secured to said upper member above said sole member. 

1. A child''s shoe comprising soft sole and upper elements conformably securable to the desired foot, weight distributing stiffening member means for broadening the lateral support to after portion of the foot comprising a rigid sheet member secured to the heel portion of said sole and upper elements having a portion extending forward toward the ball of the foot while not underlying the ball of the foot, said extending portion reaching substantially to the base of the small toe at the outer lateral margin and extending forward of the heel portion of the shoe at the inner margin.
 2. A shoe according to claim 1, said portion of the rigid sheet being arcuately concave shaped at the forward edge and conforming to the shape of said sole portion at the rear and lateral sides of the shoe.
 3. A shoe according to claim 2, said forward edge extending substantially to the ball of the wearer''s foot except at said outer margin.
 4. A shoe according to claim 1, said rigid sheet being secured to said sole member exteriorly thereof.
 5. A shoe according to claim 1, said rigid sheet being secured to said upper member above said sole member. 